The Vascular Vein Centers Vein Health Blog

The medical industry is constantly changing. New techniques and new therapies continue to replace outdated vein health procedures. In this blog, the medical staff at Vascular Vein Centers shares their insights into new discoveries and proven methodologies. See how these new developments can impact your life in the articles below.

Did you know that DVT affects about 600,000 people a year, and is the leading cause of preventable hospital deaths in the United States, the leading cause of maternal death in the United States, and causes chronic lifelong symptoms in half of all affected individuals?

Until recently compression stockings were used for people suffering from varicose veins and the skin conditions they cause. Often they were worn begrudgingly because of the difficulty getting them on and the perception that they were hot.

With all the travel, shopping and cooking of the holidays, it’s easy to forget about the extra physical stress you’ll be under. You can expect to spend many extra hours on your feet, and it’s your legs that will take the brunt of this extra standing.

Veterans are now able to receive care from the providers at Vascular Vein Centers through the Veterans Choice Program, giving veterans the choice to receive care at the 6 centers located in Central Florida.

Thrombosis (blood clots) is the second-leading cause of death in patients with cancer. Breast cancer increases the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), usually in the legs. Aggressive preventive care— and an attitude that doesn’t accept defeat—will help you avoid this complication.

September is National Vascular Disease Awareness Month. Dr. Martin shares information about vein disease and how vascular disease affects the health of arteries and veins. The general public frequently thinks of vascular disease as atherosclerosis, causing strokes, and possibly leading to amputation or abdominal aortic aneurysm with the possibility of rupture. Most people don’t realize the problems veins can cause.

Did you know that being in water is the only place that gravity doesn’t affect your leg veins, other than outer space or standing on your head? This is a good reason to get wet, especially at the end of the day!

Did you know that over 24 million Americans suffer from vein issues and summer heat makes these worse? See Dr. Martin’s tips to beat the heat this summer. Protect your vein health and avoid swelling and discomfort that summer heat can cause.

Vein issues do not affect your heart health, but it’s important to recognize that a heart condition may make vein problems worse. If you suffer from a heart problem, you need to find out why your leg veins may be at risk for getting much worse.

Celebrate our 14th anniversary throughout June! Don't miss this chance to get answers to your leg health questions while enjoying fantastic refreshments, giveaways and much more! All events run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Just choose your nearest location and date.

Many suffer from unsightly spider veins and varicose veins. Vein disease symptoms can range from mild discomfort to pain, but they all have one thing in common: ignoring them allows the problem to progress. Some common symptoms and signs of vein disease include: Fullness, aching, pressure or fatigue, swelling, particularly at the ankle, cramping, and itching with rough scaly skin at the ankle. Even spider veins, while considered cosmetic, could be the tip of the iceberg and indicate deeper vein problems.

Not surprisingly, your age plays a big role in your vein health. Vein damage is cumulative, so the longer we live, the more strain our veins have endured. By the time we reach an advanced age, our legs have undergone many years of stress.

Water is the only place that gravity does not affect veins. Gravity’s long-term impact on our bodies is the main reason vein disease develops. Veins are responsible for returning blood back to the heart. They have a tough job because blood has to travel uphill against gravity.

Many women suffer from unsightly spider veins and varicose veins. Not only are these veins an eyesore, they can also cause irritation and pain. Fortunately, with today’s modern treatments, you no longer have to undergo painful surgeries or endure ineffective sclerotherapy to treat these leg issues.

Patients often come to us knowing they have problems with their veins, but they are worried about the process of “vein removal.” This fear may come from a loved one’s past experiences or personally from a “ligation and stripping” procedure that they underwent years ago. Today’s modern vein treatments now use minimally invasive techniques that involve less pain and recovery to let you get back on your feet much faster.

Please join us for Healthy Living Day this Friday, February 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free event is presented by One Senior Place and will include valuable health information and services for seniors.

This is a very important question and will affect your leg health for years. The treatment of venous insufficiency is a medical problem, not a cosmetic one. If you need surgery, you want an experienced surgeon with proper training from a reputable institution. You want a surgeon with the judgment to recommend the best care for your condition. Vein therapy is no different.

Now that you know what spider veins look like and their causes, it’s time to discuss your spider vein removal options. Many of the factors that contribute to spider vein development can be avoided and preventative measures can be taken.

What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are the small red or purple vessels which may develop on the surface of the skin and are commonly found on the face or legs. As you can imagine, the presence of these vessels can be very distressing. You may not realize that they can also be very uncomfortable, causing a burning or itching sensation.

Last month, we joined The American Venous Forum in promoting Venous Health Month, the official time of the year dedicated to raising awareness of venous disease and its complications. The American Venous Forum fights venous and lymphatic disease by supporting a variety of educational efforts, cutting edge research and clinical innovations.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a poorly understood condition that can have multiple causes. While often described as a “neurological disorder" characterized by an irresistible urge to move one’s body to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations, confusion with the symptoms of venous insufficiency is very widespread. This confusion complicates treatment and allows RLS to continue disrupting life for patients.

Spurred on by photos of pint-sized fashion icons like Suri Cruise sporting shoes matching her mom’s style, little girls’ high heels have spiked in popularity over the last couple of years. According to estimates, it’s now a $4 billion industry and growing. Little girls want to dress just like their mothers and parents appear to be all too happy to let them. But does today’s fashion trend for little girls go too far?

Did you know that one of the best things that you can do to maintain your leg health is to use compression therapy by wearing medical grade compression stockings? It’s true. Compression stockings and socks are the gold standard in managing the signs and symptoms of vein disease. With today’s advancements in materials, tailoring and styles, taking advantage of this health tool has never been easier.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is one of the most common problems we see as vascular surgeons. Venous insufficiency, which affects over half of the population, greatly impacts your quality of life and overall leg health, making fast vein treatment essential.

Our team at VVC is proud to announce the three winners of our very first employee wellness program, The Biggest Winner! 33 contestants participated, and the following three ladies led the pack in their individual achievement categories:

Compression therapy offers a powerful tool to improve your vein health, but how many times have you struggled to put on these tight garments? Particularly if you have reduced flexibility or pain, properly putting these fitted socks and stockings can be a huge challenge. But Vascular Vein Centers now has your solution!

This year marks our 12th anniversary serving the Central Florida community with essential vein disease screening, prevention and treatment. Although we’ve helped many patients and experienced great success and growth during this time, this anniversary gives us a chance to show our appreciation to everyone who has come through our doors and trusted us to relieve their vein problems.

Here’s a variety of shoe fashions and styles to fit any occasion. But just because they’re a stylish fit doesn’t mean they’re fitting for your leg health. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly of our 9 most recent shoes reviewed!

When you’re deciding which shoe to wear for the day, you should look less at matching it with the outfit and more at matching it with the outing. The right shoe can support your leg health all day, keeping you comfortable and happy!

March is DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) awareness month. It has only been in the last few years that the public has become aware of the significance of clots in the deep veins. Several years ago, journalist David Bloom lost his life in the Middle East because of a pulmonary Embolus (a clot from the leg that broke off and traveled to the lung). Hillary Clinton and Serena Williams also have suffered from blood clots, as did former President Nixon.

Here are our three final tips on how to show your legs some love! And remember, Tip #1 was: Don’t Assume Spider Veins are Only Cosmetic – Those cosmetic blemishes can indicate an underlying vein problem!

The right shoe can make or break an outfit. But proper footwear is also essential to support your leg health. Here’s an overview of four shoes we recently reviewed and our recommendations on each. With these tips, you can still get a killer look without killing your legs!

Women face unique leg health problems even though there is no distinction between men and women from an arterial and orthopedic perspective. Vein problems are much more common in women, and the reasons are clear.

Vascular Vein Centers celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011. Although Dr. Sam Martin has been in practice for 30 years, it was 10 years ago that he started the first practice dedicated to the treatment of vein problems. To commemorate our anniversary, we are unveiling our new logo and are very proud of the “look” and what it stands for.

March is DVT awareness month!... The National Coalition to prevent DVT and raise awareness of this serious medical condition has declared march as DVT awareness month in memory of NBC News correspondent who died from complications of DVT while embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq...

Restless leg syndrome is thought to be a neurological disorder associated with unpleasant sensations in the extremities...It is usually described as burning, crawling, creeping, tugging, electrical shocks , and crazy limbs.

In searching for cures or help with varicose and spider veins, one must beware of the quick fix or "miracle cure". Unfortunately, in America, there is a preoccupation for an easy solution, from losing weight to fitness and health.
Veins are a health issue, not a blemish to be covered up or take a pill for...

Surgery has been shown over time to be effective. In the past, I performed many strippings when it was considered the best therapy. Surgery entailed multiple incisions in the leg under general anesthesia. Some patients who had other health issues were not candidates. It required a period of recovery--usually a few days but sometimes several weeks. Taking the veins out of the legs causes pain as do the incisions themselves. Overtime new veins form, especially in the upper thigh and lower legs. Tying the vein off in the groin predisposes to new veins. Pregnancy after an operation will cause new vein to form-guaranteed. In the past, the appearance of new veins or veins that weren’t completely eliminated necessitated further surgery.